When I was 20 years old, I made a promise to a young, 19-year-old girl. I was in love and I intended to commit my life to her. As I stood before all those witnesses, I pledged my devotion to her until one of us died. That was my hope and yet I knew I could not guarantee the future. God is different. He makes … Continue reading The Guarantee of our Future
There is a door of death that awaits us all. When this door opens it does so quickly and often without warning. It ushers us into eternity, then closes securely behind us, never allowing us re-entry into this world again. We’re not alarmed when old people die. But, when others leave this world early, it causes us to think about things we may not want … Continue reading Close to the End
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”Mark 2:16-17 The day I buried … Continue reading Another Man’s Righteousness
“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.” Jonah 3:10-4:1 I like the story of Jonah. It’s an easy read. I pity the mockers of the whale story. They miss the mercy and compassion of … Continue reading Justified Anger
I went to see my Dad today. He’s 84 and lives with strangers now. He was once our leader and provider. Now he sits alone at the dining table with TV noise in the background. I remember how big and strong he was, now his frailty overshadows his large hands, as he sits in a wheelchair. I pass by empty eyes and blank stares down … Continue reading Useful to the End
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties. Again, and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:11-12 In eternity was the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. God’s grace was given … Continue reading With His Own Blood
I love my kids. When they were little, they came with me everywhere. Now when I go to bed, I don’t always know where they’re at. Sometimes, I think about an endless eternity without just one of them and there is no deeper pain for me to contemplate. I’ve spent many nights in anguish and tears wondering where they will go when they die. I … Continue reading No Deeper Pain
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 Prisons are full of men claiming their innocence. Though some have been mistakenly pronounced guilty, the majority deserve to be there. It’s the criminals that are never caught that make us … Continue reading A Glorious Substitution
You see, at just the right time, when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. This past weekend another unexpected fire hit our little mountain town. Laughter and joy of celebrating my daughter’s birthday quickly morphed into anxiety, dread and fear. Reflecting on my emotions after seeing the helicopters and planes clean up today, I am left with the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness. Most … Continue reading Without Strength
“I was found by those who did not seek Me, I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me” Romans 10:20 Sometimes God really surprises us with the people He decides to save. Saul of Tarsus was one of these. He was a terrible person dragging men and women to prison and torturing some of them to death. He thought he was doing … Continue reading His Chosen Vessels
Pilgrims Perspective 